The path to the playoffs for Galaxy has become increasingly ominous with each game during their current 10-game winless streak.

With nine games remaining, the Galaxy is in 10th place, 13 points out of the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy has been shut out in three consecutive games and hasn’t scored in its last four home games.

“You have fans and supporters that come to the games and pay for the tickets, they want to see you battle and fight,” Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones said. “That’s the main thing that you can do and hope you get some points out of it.”

Jones and the Galaxy will attempt to snap that 0-9-1 skid Saturday when they host the Colorado Rapids at 8 p.m. (Spectrum SportsNet).

“We just have see every game, game-by-game,” Jones said. “Every game is a final. That’s how you have to see it. Playoffs? I don’t want to talk playoffs. The light is still there, but it is so small, so right now we have to see game-by-game and see every game like a final.”

According to FiveThirtyEight.com, the Galaxy had a 5 percent chance of making the playoffs last week, but now the site has the chances at less than one percent.

“It is extremely frustrating,” defender Dave Romney said. “It’s a lack of confidence. I don’t think anyone’s (confidence) is sky-high and it shouldn’t after losing this many games, but you’ve got to turn your thinking around. You have to think positive, be aggressive and things will turn your way.

“I think before the Columbus game (Aug. 24), Sigi was telling us if we beat Columbus and beat San Jose, that would be a six-point swing, that was pretty motivating. These games are in front of us and we can control our destiny to an extent. After these last two, it is a lot harder to say that, but guys are playing for their livelihood now. That’s one of the most motivating things that you can play for, so everyone is going to be playing as hard as they can for a position next year. It is just one of those seasons, injuries, bad luck … everything keeps hitting you game after game and you just hope it is going to turn.”

ALESSANDRINI BECOMES A FATHER

Romain Alessandrini missed Sunday’s game against San Jose after his girlfriend went into labor Friday.

She went into the hospital Saturday and finally gave birth to a baby girl Naomi, Wednesday.

“Everything is OK,” Alessandrini said Thursday on his first day back. “It was long and hard for my girlfriend, but everything is OK and I’m very glad.

“It is a good feeling. I was a little bit frustrated Sunday because I wasn’t with my team, but I think it is the most difficult game of my life with my girlfriend. Now, I’m back with the team and I’m here for Saturday (against Colorado).”

Alessandrini leads the Galaxy with eight goals, but hasn’t scored since June 21 and he hasn’t played a full 90 minutes since July 29.

“It has been frustrating,” Alessandrini said. “Everybody is giving everything, each training, each game, but this year is so weird, so strange for everybody, but now we have to keep the head up and move forward to try to win the last few games.”

COLORADO RAPIDS at L.A. GALAXY

Kickoff: 8 p.m. at StubHub Center

TV/radio: Spectrum SportsNet; KWKW/1330; LAGalaxy.com (English)

Update: The Rapids are in last place in the Western Conference (6-15-4) with 22 points. They’re 0-10-2 on the road and recently fired coach Pablo Mastroeni. Dominique Badji leads the Rapids with six goals, Kevin Doyle has five. Former Galaxy Alan Gordon has scored two. The Galaxy has three home games remaining after tonight. Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos are out due to national team commitments with Mexico. Clement Diop is also away with Senegal’s national team.

Damian Calhoun is the Prep Sports Coordinator and writer for the Daily Breeze. He's also the soccer writer for the Southern California News Group, covering Major League Soccer and occasionally the U.S. national teams.

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